History of a Gem
Tahitian Pearls are produced in the black lipped oyster called« Pinctada Margaritifera » in French Polynesian , around the island of Tahiti .
These pearls are unique because of their natural dark colors. Most « black »Tahitian pearls are not actually black, but instead they have a multitude of colors. They are the only Saltwater pearls whose colors vary from white to dark green, pink , yellow and peacock.
With a dominant color being green, certain color are more valuable than others. The prices of the Pearls highly depend of their rarity and availability. They range from One dollar to Fifty Thousand dollars per pearl.
Tahitian Pearl Farming
Due to the value of this jewel, they have been over exploited to a point of near extinction. But science has found a way to cultivate this jewel without compromising the existence of oysters. Pearl farms have been opened where pearls are harvested in a more sustainable way.
It takes around two and a half years to get a big enough oyster to produce a pearl . When it is ready the grafting starts . The grafter gets a donor oyster that is usually chosen for the beauty of it’s colors.
Then he cuts a small piece of mantle to insert in another oyster (The mantel is the membrane that produces the splendid iridescence called nacre. It also determines the color of the future Tahitian Pearl).
After that he inserts a nucleus, which is a round shaped bead made out of an oyster from the Mississippi river.
The oysters are then suspended on long lines in the clear water of the lagoon for about a year and a half as the pearls inside them form and grow.
Finally the oysters are removed and their pearls are gently extracted. The same oyster can be grafted and produce a pearl up to 7 times.
Pearl Grading Factors
